They are testing new artillery shells banned by Minsk agreements, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Defense and Security Council says

According to Olexandr Turchynov’s press service, Russian troops that are currently stationed in eastern Ukraine continue to test modern weapons and military hardware during the ongoing attacks on positions of Ukrainian forces. ‘This month, there were reports of the use of KM-8 ‘Gran’’, the brand new mortar systems using the guided 120 mm mines; the enemy also used ‘Malachite’, the man-made portable systems of automatic fire control. Both weapons are designed for immediate destruction of manpower, armored targets and fortifications – upon the first shot,’ Turchynov said, adding that the weapon crews consist solely of Russian regular troops.

The official added that there are many more cases of weaponry tests by Russian troops in Donbas. In particular, they run tests on new strike drones ‘Inspector 601’, new multirole electronic warfare systems, and the new enhanced 122 mm howitzer shells, forbidden by international conventions. ‘All of the above occurs in conditions of significant increase of violence, as the Russian military deliberately breaches Minsk agreements’, Turchynov said.